Jax Ruston is a rugged metalsmith with curly hair and dimples to die for. A resident of 1855, he's pledged to help Sophia find Jonas. Together, they journey across continental Europe in pursuit of Jonas.
Despite her duty, Sophia's attracted to handsome Jax. However, he's committed to living in 1855. Can Sophia keep her focus on her mission, or will desire interfere with her task? Only one thing is certain: a princess is always right.
Jax raked a hand over his hair. He did not want her to leave without him. That meant only one thing. He had to go to her and convince her they couldn't be separated. He stood and cast his gaze on Ian. The boy slept soundly. Jax had to find a compromise by doing right by the boy and doing right by his heart.
He closed the door behind him gently and checked on Sophia's room. She wasn't there. Then he went downstairs. Peeking into the study, he saw Lady Charlotte placing covers over Lord Ridgecroft and making him comfortable. Could she be in the kitchen? He continued down the hall and caught a glimpse of two people sitting on a bench. Jeeves and Sophia. Fisting his hands, he drew in a breath and steeled up his courage.
Jax knocked on the glass of the french doors and stepped out. She looked up at him, sadness etched in her face.
"Can we talk?" he asked.
Jeeves glanced at Sophia. She offered the butler a small smile. "It's fine."
Jeeves stood and bowed. "If you'll excuse me, I'll finish my rounds and retire for the evening."
"Good night, Jeeves," Jax said.
The butler nodded and left.
"I had no idea I had a son. This was a surprise."
"It's clear the boy is yours," she said, softly. "And so is your duty."
"I won't deny it," Jax paused. "And I do want to get to know him, but I don't want to lose you either."
"I have to leave tomorrow."
He pursed his lips, frustrated. "I knew Fiona briefly. I was attracted to her because she was kind, but I knew nothing would ever come of us. My father suggested she knew that, too, that's why she never told me."
"I'm sorry." Sophia looked at her fingers in her lap, then up at him. "She should have contacted you. It would have been the right thing to do."
He sighed and took the seat next to Sophia placing her hand between his. He snared her eyes with his stare. "The right thing to do is let me go with you tomorrow. I care for you."
"I know what it's like to lose a parent. I was twelve when my mother passed away. I still remember the little things, like her smile. I remember traveling all over Britain with her. When my mother passed away, a sadness filled my heart that I thought I would never replace. That little boy is hurting right now. He needs you."
"He can come with us." Jax just blurted out the first thought that came to his mind. If Sophia wanted Ian to be close to Jax, then it only made sense to have Ian come with them. Jax thought the idea was inspired.
Sophia's mouth fell open, then she closed it, before she scrunched up her brows. "Are you serious? That we take a five-year-old traipsing all over Europe with us?"
"Why not? It's the only way we can be all together." He had no idea what it would entail, but what better way to solve his problem? He would get to know his son and remain close to Sophia.
He closed the door behind him gently and checked on Sophia's room. She wasn't there. Then he went downstairs. Peeking into the study, he saw Lady Charlotte placing covers over Lord Ridgecroft and making him comfortable. Could she be in the kitchen? He continued down the hall and caught a glimpse of two people sitting on a bench. Jeeves and Sophia. Fisting his hands, he drew in a breath and steeled up his courage.
Jax knocked on the glass of the french doors and stepped out. She looked up at him, sadness etched in her face.
"Can we talk?" he asked.
Jeeves glanced at Sophia. She offered the butler a small smile. "It's fine."
Jeeves stood and bowed. "If you'll excuse me, I'll finish my rounds and retire for the evening."
"Good night, Jeeves," Jax said.
The butler nodded and left.
"I had no idea I had a son. This was a surprise."
"It's clear the boy is yours," she said, softly. "And so is your duty."
"I won't deny it," Jax paused. "And I do want to get to know him, but I don't want to lose you either."
"I have to leave tomorrow."
He pursed his lips, frustrated. "I knew Fiona briefly. I was attracted to her because she was kind, but I knew nothing would ever come of us. My father suggested she knew that, too, that's why she never told me."
"I'm sorry." Sophia looked at her fingers in her lap, then up at him. "She should have contacted you. It would have been the right thing to do."
He sighed and took the seat next to Sophia placing her hand between his. He snared her eyes with his stare. "The right thing to do is let me go with you tomorrow. I care for you."
"I know what it's like to lose a parent. I was twelve when my mother passed away. I still remember the little things, like her smile. I remember traveling all over Britain with her. When my mother passed away, a sadness filled my heart that I thought I would never replace. That little boy is hurting right now. He needs you."
"He can come with us." Jax just blurted out the first thought that came to his mind. If Sophia wanted Ian to be close to Jax, then it only made sense to have Ian come with them. Jax thought the idea was inspired.
Sophia's mouth fell open, then she closed it, before she scrunched up her brows. "Are you serious? That we take a five-year-old traipsing all over Europe with us?"
"Why not? It's the only way we can be all together." He had no idea what it would entail, but what better way to solve his problem? He would get to know his son and remain close to Sophia.
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ReplyDeleteThanks so much for having me here. Here's a link to the book trailer for Victorian Scoundrel, book 1 in the series. It's about Alice, Sophia's sister. BOOK TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IUYj2d7ZeY
ReplyDeletesmiles
Steph Burkhart
Romance Under the Moonlight
If you were a super-hero, what powers would you have?
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a great book.
ReplyDelete